Big news for sports: FDA reportedly approves $5 coronavirus test, with results in 15 minutes

A potential game-changer in the fight against the coronavirus has arrived in the form of a rapid and affordable test that would be available in schools, work places and other group settings like sports facilities.

The FDA’s “emergency use authorization” awarded to Abbott’s “BinaxNOW Covid-19 Ag Card” rapid test turns around results within 15 minutes and cost $5, Forbes reported. Such a test, which still requires a nasal swab by a health professional, is akin to a pregnancy test in its use of “lateral flow technology” and is about the size of a credit card.

“With no equipment required, the device will be an important tool to manage risk by quickly identifying infectious people so they don’t spread the disease to others,” Abbott said in announcing the FDA’s emergency use authorization.

Abbott in March received an FDA emergency use authorization for the Abbott ID NOW Covid-19 rapid molecular “point-of-care” diagnostic test that can be used in temporary screening locations, doctor’s office labs and nursing homes to detect the Coronavirus strain COVID-19 within a half hour.

BinaxNOW is different than IDNow in that it requires “no instrumentation,” Abbott said. And the new BinaxNow includes a companion mobile app Abbott will launch for iPhone and Android devices and make available at no charge called NAVICATM” that quickly displays test results.

BREAKING: Abbott launches $5 coronavirus test that yields results in 15 minutes, without needing any laboratory equipment. This will significantly speed testing efforts. 50 million tests a months, headed our way.

— Michelle Fay Cortez (@FayCortez) August 26, 2020

While antigen tests have been criticized over accuracy, this one was shown to be 97.1% sensitive, 98.5% specific. It also comes with an app that you can use to prove your status. (Big Brother or big benefit? Both?) https://t.co/mSv87xynri

— Michelle Fay Cortez (@FayCortez) August 26, 2020

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.